Gov't and Opposition in Venezuela Resume Peaceful Dialogue

Representatives of Venezuela's government have arrived in the Dominican Republic for discussions about restarting talks with the opposition on resolving the South American nation's economic and political turmoil.

"We are very close to resolving numerous points on the agenda", he told reporters in the capital of the Caribbean state.

The surprise negotiations were announced by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday, when the head of state confirmed that he had accepted an invitation from former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas to begin renewed dialogue efforts.

Nonetheless, Dominican President Danilo Medina was more cautious in his assessment of the situation following Wednesday's meeting.

Rodriguez was accompanied his sister Delcy Rodriguez, who chairs the all-powerful Constituent Assembly, and the veteran Venezuelan diplomat Roy Chaderton.

Julio Borges, president of the National Assembly, is representing the opposition.

Rodriguez did not say if he expected to have a face-to-face meeting with the opposition delegation.

They are demanding the government respect institutions like the opposition-controlled congress, free political prisoners and allow humanitarian aid to flow into a country with crippling food and medical shortages.

Previously, Maduro read a statement signed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, in which he expresses the full support of the global entity to the proposal of the Dominican Republic and former head of the Spanish government.

"Antonio Guterres is trying to form a group of countries that will mediate and guarantee a dialogue and compliance with the results", Henry Ramos Allup told reporters in Caracas.

Attempted talks facilitated by the Vatican, Zapatero and other leading worldwide political figures turned sour late a year ago without reaching any kind of consensus.

Venezuela's opposition has made clear that Maduro's government must first adhere to preconditions before it would join talks. Several countries, including Germany and France, have refused to accept the pro-government body as a legitimate part of the government.

However, Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis warned that action by the Maduro government was needed, following talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza in Madrid.

"We are men and women of their word, I believe in the word, in dialogue, politics as the exercise of truth, sharing, debate of ideas and freedom of expression", he said in a joint radio and television address.

Editor's Picks

If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click "Report". Get a NOW TV day pass for £6.99! "There are a lot of things we need to get right so we should focus on ourselves".

You might have heard negative reports or the views of cynics and thought Bitcoin was dead and buried, but you’d be wrong. The video below, provided by The Guardian, is a helpful and smartly displayed guide for those still not sure what Bitcoin is.

The central matchup in this game will be Clemson's front seven against the reigning Heisman Trophy victor , Lamar Jackson . USC displayed a physical and balanced offense, embarrassing a Stanford defense which prides itself on its toughness.

Quarterback Jake Bentley connected with Samuel for a 68-yard touchdown, which marked his sixth touchdown of the year. Kentucky played without starting linebacker Jordan Jones, who was out with a banged up shoulder.

More than 700 mayors gathered in Barcelona Saturday to march through the streets of Catalonia's cosmopolitan capital. Spanish police on Saturday seized printing materials meant to support and promote the referendum near Barcelona.

The S & P 500 ended the week 1.6% higher and the Dow Industrials up by 2.2%, for a one-year gain in the latter of 26%. Gold fell 0.6 percent to $1,321.69 an ounce.West Texas Intermediaterose 0.1 percent to $49.93 a barrel.

Rick Scott has said that restoring power to hospitals and nursing homes was a priority. "This situation is unfathomable", he said. Across the street from the stifling nursing home sat a fully air-conditioned hospital, Memorial Regional.

At the end of one game, the player has the opportunity to make a comparison of the actual numbers with the initially encrypted. Independent verification Some casinos, to prove their honesty, go further and draw for verification of independent experts.

A pioneering idea, the use of the giant screens of the world's largest multimedia square to share art with the general public. As Ribeiro continues planning the project’s next phase, he is testing innovative exhibition spaces such as Times Square.

But trips to Memorial Regional Hospital are nothing new ever since Wilson has been at the rehabilitation center , she says. There have also been some statements by nursing home groups and regulators and even some government officials.

And given time, Johnson could be the elite talent to inspire the Cardinals to a maiden Super Bowl victory for the franchise. Statistically, Johnson is one of the best in the NFL but it is his work in the trenches that stands him apart from the rest.

The Bengals are 1-8 in their last nine games against the Texans, and in the last six they have scored an average of 11.7 points. He ran five times for a team-high 67 yards and completed 15 of 24 passes for 125 yards with no interceptions and three sacks.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Major League Soccer is one of the fastest growing divisions in world football. In fact, he would go down in history as one of the most successful players to play in the United States.